WANTED: ON-CAMPUS DRUG DEALERS

East Lawrence High Principal Excited About New Progam

TRINITY - After serving two tours of duty in Iraq, East Lawrence High
Principal and Army Reserve Lt. Col. Ricky Nichols said he knows what
it takes to combat terrorists.

Nichols, who has served in the military 24 years, said he hopes the
same skills will help him keep drugs out of the classroom. Nichols
spearheaded a program called Operation Bounty Hunter in December,
after county authorities arrested several students on drug charges.

The program includes $100 cash rewards for students who submit tips
leading to drug arrests. School officials will keep the identities of
students who submit tips confidential, Nichols said.

Friday, Nichols said local residents had donated $1,100 to fund the program.

"We're excited about the possibility of what could happen," he said.
"We don't really know what to expect at this point."

For too long, school officials have been "on the defensive" when
dealing with drugs and weapons, he said.

"No one has ever won a war on the defensive," he said.

Nichols said he wanted to try something different to attack what he
said is the "center of gravity" for drug dealers. Dealers rely most
on the trust of people buying drugs and the complacency of others,
Nichols said.

Posters are hanging in East Lawrence High hallways and in local
businesses featuring a masked face with red eyes and a message
telling anyone "selling death" they have no place to hide.

Nichols said T-shirts featuring the message will soon be available to
students and school staff. Even if student participation starts
slowly, Nichols said, he is confident the program will be a success.

"It may start slowly, with students testing the water," he said. "It
will take a little while to get over the stigma of being a snitch.
But it's not being a snitch. What they're doing is very valuable.
They're performing a means by which to do away with something that is
illegal and harmful to their friends."

Nichols said he would explain details of the program to students when
they return to school Monday.

He said the Lawrence County School Board and other members of the
community support the program.

"I'm excited about it," Superintendent Dexter Rutherford said.

"We're always looking for ways to gain an advantage over the few
folks that are selling drugs."

Nichols said East Lawrence High will continue to accept donations for
the program.

To contribute, send donations to Operation Bounty Hunter, East
Lawrence High, 55 Lawrence County 370, Trinity, AL 35673.